Josh Land

Rachel Levitin: Nats' expectations clashing with stark reality

August 19, 2015, 5:46am

When it comes to professional sports, looking good on paper can be deceiving when weighed against the actions of a team in any given season. This is what seems to be plaguing the Nationals in 2015. Two division titles in three years and the Nats are struggling to paw their way back to the top of the National League East and dethrone the New York Mets before time runs out on the regular season. And while wins like last night's 15-6 blowout victory against the Rockies in Colorado are nice to see...

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Jayson Werth, Ryan Zimmerman break out with a big night

August 18, 2015, 10:44pm

Nationals

Jayson Werth, Ryan Zimmerman break out with a big night

Searching for a way to ignite his slumping offense and jumpstart his grizzled veteran's season, Nationals manager Matt Williams opted to pencil in Jayson Werth in the leadoff spot Tuesday night. For one night, the move delivered, with Werth ripping a double and a single, drawing a walk and scoring all three times he reached base in the Nationals' 15-6 win over the Rockies in the series opener. "It's comfortable for him, he's been there before," Williams told reporters. "He's a good run...

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Losing streak ends with offensive explosion

August 18, 2015, 9:18pm

Nationals

Losing streak ends with offensive explosion

It wasn't pretty for a while, but the Nationals finally took advantage of Coors Field to put an end to their six-game losing skid with a lopsided 15-6 win over the Rockies. With the Mets beating the Orioles 5-3, the Nats needed this seesaw battle to tip in their favor just to remain within 4 1/2 games of the lead in the National League East. "We came out offensively and had a good approach tonight," Nationals manager Matt Williams said to reporters. "This ballpark, you never know. Six...

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Domenic Vadala: Late-season deal could tip AL East in favor of Orioles

August 18, 2015, 7:10pm

Orioles

As we've all heard countless times, Major League Baseball's trade season doesn't end in July. The non-waiver trade deadline is, of course, at the end of July. However, trades can still be made until the waiver trade deadline at the end of August (which means that players can be traded so long as they pass through waivers). So with the Orioles now playing better (or so it seems) in the wake of the West Coast trip, I would submit that the waiver trade deadline is of supreme importance for this...

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Nats offense wakes up in 15-6 win

August 18, 2015, 4:55pm

Nationals

In the leadoff spot for the first time this year, Jayson Werth flew out to right to start the game. After striking out Danny Espinosa, Rockies starter David Hale walked Bryce Harper. Yunel Escobar then tangled with Hale in an eight-pitch battle, finally making the right-hander pay with a two-run homer drilled to right-center field. It was Escobar's ninth home run of the season. The Rockies answered quicky in the bottom of the frame. Jose Reyes legged out an infield single on a slow bouncer to...

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bryce harper chris johnson jordan zimmermann nationals nationals pastime yunel escobar featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Nationals game blog: Nats need Jordan Zimmermann to be the stopper

August 18, 2015, 4:18pm

Nationals

The Nationals limp into Denver after being booted out of L.A. and San Francisco on this disastrous 10-game road trip. The numbers are terrible: .179 team batting average over a six-game losing streak, which includes three shutouts, and starting pitchers unable to pitch out of the fifth inning in four of the six defeats. Time to throw them all out of the window. With 45 games remaining and trailing the first place Mets by 4 1/2 games, these Nats must begin their turnaround tonight against the...

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Jayson Werth leading off (with lineups)

August 18, 2015, 1:36pm

Nationals

After a day off to regroup, the Nationals open the final series of their 10-game road trip against the Rockies tonight. Washington comes in losers of their past six, hitting .179 and averaging just two runs per game as a team over the slide. In the absence of Denard Span, Nationals manager Matt Williams continues searching for a leadoff hitter. Left fielder Jayson Werth tops Williams' batting order against Rockies right-hander David Hale tonight. Werth was featured in the leadoff spot for 38...

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Five-year-old Hailey Dawson throws out first pitch with Orioles-themed robotic hand

August 18, 2015, 1:04pm

Orioles

The stage was set for five-year-old Hailey Dawson. She set in the infield grass at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, her brother Zach Dawson by her side. Her favorite player Manny Machado stood by home plate, glove in hand, ready to catch Hailey's ceremonial first pitch. Hailey was born with Poland syndrome, a disease in which affected individuals are born with missing or abnormal muscles on one side of the chest wall, and many affected are born with abnormalities of the hand, which may involve...

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Hitting the Books with Gary Thorne: "The Game Must Go On"

August 18, 2015, 12:37pm

As time moves on, we hear less and less about those baseball players who went into the service in World War II. As time moves on, fewer and fewer of them are still alive. Their sacrifice was neither more or less than the millions who went to serve their country. However, for sports fans, it is another story surrounding the game - a story far beyond hits and errors. John Klima's book, "The Game Must Go On," uniquely gives a perspective on ballplayers and their war efforts through central...

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enoch pratt free library gary thorne hitting the books john klima sarah kuperman

Matt Kremnitzer: Schoop is giving O's a bat they sorely need

August 18, 2015, 5:51am

Orioles

Matt Kremnitzer: Schoop is giving O's a bat they sorely need

It's easy to get carried away when talking about the promise of a young major leaguer. If a player is performing well, even for an extended stretch, it's hard not to ponder his future. Really, that's part of being a fan - wondering what is and what could be. But there's a game tomorrow, and the day after, and probably the day after that; things change in a hurry. Such is the case for Jonathan Schoop. Only 23, Schoop is certainly no Manny Machado. That's not a dig at all, as Machado is one...

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guest blogger guestblogger jonathan schoop matt kremnitzer orioles orioles buzz

Time for Nationals' starting rotation to deliver

August 18, 2015, 4:56am

Nationals

Offseason dreams of a parade down Constitution Avenue began with the assembly of the Nationals' impressive starting rotation. While dominating at times, the Nats' starters haven't come close to living up to their historic billing. Veteran right-hander Doug Fister, arguably the team's best pitcher last year, spent more than a month on the disabled list, never got his season on track and was eventually bounced to the bullpen after posting a 4.60 ERA in 15 starts. Rookie Joe Ross, who replaced...

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Andrew Stetka: Chris Davis' hot streak means big bucks this winter

August 17, 2015, 5:19am

Orioles

Andrew Stetka: Chris Davis' hot streak means big bucks this winter

Orioles fans have been bracing for the moment when Chris Davis possibly walks out of town, but if his recent play is any indication, the slugging first baseman will be surfing on a wave of cash if he departs Baltimore instead. The 29-year-old pending free agent has put up monster numbers this season, more than bouncing back from what many saw as a disappointing 2014 campaign. Davis has clubbed 15 of his 34 homers this season since July 22 and has his OPS hovering near the .900 mark. He likely...

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andrew stetka chris davis guest blogger guestblogger orioles orioles buzz

Marty Niland: Just like 2013, Nats falling short, but they're not out of it

August 17, 2015, 5:05am

Nationals

Marty Niland: Just like 2013, Nats falling short, but they're not out of it

Nationals fans across the internet seem to be in full panic mode after a four-game sweep at the hands of the San Francisco Giants. The team fell below .500 for the first time since May, and failed to gain ground on the National League East-leading New York Mets, who were swept at home by Pittsburgh. Among fans who are already calling for manager Matt Williams to be fired, there's a heated Twitter conversation about which ex-National, if any, should be named to replace him. A Facebook...

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guest blogger guestblogger marty niland nationals nationals buzz

The consistently inconsistent Nationals offense

August 17, 2015, 4:53am

Nationals

No question Giants lefty Madison Bumgarner was lights out yesterday, just as Dodgers aces Zack Greinke and Clayton Kershaw were in their blanking of the Nationals earlier in the week. But how monotonous has that cop out become for the Nats scuffling offense? The season has reached the point where simply "tipping your cap" to the guy on the mound is unacceptable. "We gotta grind ... we gotta grind at-bats," Nationals manager Matt Williams told reporters after yesterday's 5-0 shutout loss....

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Special guest Hailey Dawson to throw out first pitch using Orioles-themed robotic hand

August 16, 2015, 6:38pm

Orioles

Before they root for the Orioles to complete a four-game sweep of the Athletics, fans attending at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on Aug. 17 are in for a very "special" treat when they watch guest Hailey Dawson throw out the ceremonial first pitch. Hailey, a young girl from Las Vegas, was born with a rare disease called Poland Syndrome, which affects one to three newborns per 100,000. It is a disorder in which affected individuals are born with missing or abnormal muscles on one side of the...

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Reeling Nats swept in Madison Bumgarner's dominating performance

August 16, 2015, 3:34pm

Nationals

Reeling Nats swept in Madison Bumgarner's dominating performance

The Nationals were shut out for the third time on their disastrous road trip, this time at the hands of Madison Bumgarner, who surrendered just two hits in the Giants' 5-0 win. The four-game sweep in San Francisco extends the Nats' losing streak to six games, matching their worst run from April 22-April 27. If you're looking for a silver lining, the Pirates also swept the Mets this weekend, leaving the Washington Nationals 4 1/2 games behind the in the race for first place in the National...

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Nats shut out for third time in last six games

August 16, 2015, 1:21pm

Nationals

Nats shut out for third time in last six games

Joe Ross mowed down the Giants lineup the first time through, striking out six of the first nine batters he faced over three perfect innings. But, in the fourth, the rookie right-hander ran into trouble. Gregor Blanco led off with a single, advanced to second on Matt Duffy's deep fly out to center and then scored on Brandon Belt's double off the left field wall. After Buster Posey grounded out, Hunter Pence crushed a hanging slider to deep left for a two-out, two-run homer. Brandon Crawford...

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#BrianaInBirdland: Singer Briana Tyson performs at Camden Yards

August 16, 2015, 1:03pm

Orioles

#BrianaInBirdland: Singer Briana Tyson performs at Camden Yards

Straight from Nashville, Tenn., singer/songwriter Briana Tyson graced Camden Yards with an on-field pregame performance before the Orioles took on the A's. After the O's wrapped up an 18-2 blowout victory, we suppose you can call her a good luck charm! In her first visit to Baltimore, Tyson chatted with MASNsports.com's Julia Morris about her new album, her Birdland performance, her love of baseball and much more before taking the field to perform original music during her pregame set. She...

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Nationals game blog: Nats look to Joe Ross to end skid

August 16, 2015, 10:33am

Nationals

The Nationals send rookie Joe Ross to the mound in hopes of ending a five-game losing streak. Ross is coming off his worst outing since making his major league debut on June 6. The 22-year-old surrendered five runs on six hits with four walks in the Nats' 5-0 loss to the Dodgers last Tuesday. It was the first time Ross allowed more than three runs in any of his eight starts in the big leagues. Ross a native of nearby Berkeley, Calif., attended Bishop O'Dowd High School in Oakland, 18 miles...

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Bryce Harper in lineup for finale in San Francisco

August 16, 2015, 10:17am

Nationals

Bryce Harper in lineup for finale in San Francisco

Bryce Harper, the National League's home run leader, will start in right field this afternoon as the Nationals attempt to prevent a four-game sweep in San Francisco. Harper fouled a ball off his left foot in the seventh inning last night, dropping the young slugger to his knees. He continued the at-bat, lining out to center before heading for the clubhouse. Harper told reporters after the 12-6 loss that X-rays on the left foot were negative. The Nats need Harper's bat in the lineup, facing...